True Confessions:

No, I would have to take a loss on it and it's such a pretty bike. It's only a rod after all and most of the problem with that is the huge amount of labor to get the crank out. I have decided, for now, to pull just the offending rod and piston. I can get to the rod caps via the sump. I might be that the small end let go. (There I go with the wishful thinking again.) I any case I will be able to see the crank and check the front rod for play. I also want to check the oil pump and the related seals although the top end looks nice and oily. I would like to get to the bottom of why this happened.

 

I guess if you can get to the big end and get it apart at least you will be able to see if the crank is damaged

 

That's the plan anyway. I was doing some Internet Googling and came across a few VTRs with the same issue and it was always the rear cylinder. Honda didn't sell a huge number of these bikes. Maybe there was a bad run of bearing shells or maybe it is the angle of the rod and application. So far I see zero signs of oil starvation.

 

As it turns out, no matter how hard I wished it wasn't, it was a blown big end. I made a YouTube video showing the process of discovery.

[video=youtube;8rUoqU1kBSs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rUoqU1kBSs&feature=youtu.be[/video]

I am going to strip it down and clean it up. I have a used crank and rods coming from the good folks at eBay so I think I can make it live again. I'll be able to check everything when I split the cases. There is no way I am using that crank or those rods for that matter.

 

Jim better add this to your list of things as well, glad you are remaining positive about it
"I'll figure out what's wrong even if I have to strip it to bits. The sound makes me suspect a rode bearing. I have been around Hondas for a long time. I cannot remember ever having come across a big end failure. I used to see them all the time on the old T150 and T160 Triumphs but never on a Honda, especially one that didn't show signs of massive abuse"

 

I used to work in a BMW/Norton/Triumph dealership (I am dating myself) and my old boss was fond of saying "even BMW's break." Maybe we should add that Honda's break too sometimes. Everything can be fixed it just takes money and time. I should be OK on the money side of things. I bought it pretty right and even with the parts I will still be under blue book when it's back running. Plus, I have the time. It's not like it is my only ride or even my favorite bike. I have the VFR for that. I am really glad that a couple of years ago I built the shop I always wanted. It's not big but I now have a dry place, out of the wind, with a solid floor on which to work.

 

Thanks for taking us through the mystery to the end.










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I have become rather obsessed with this project. I feel like I ought to be laughing hysterically and being a bit wide eyed. It has become a little overwhelming but I have to see it through to the end.

 

Jim, providing it isn't hurting you too much financially then I guess it is worth seeing it through

 

No, it would be cost prohibitive to do an engine swap but tearing it down and replacing bad parts with good used ones (and the occasional new bearing shell and ring set) is mostly just time. I figure it will take three solid days of work, at a reasonable pace, to do everything I want to do and to get it running right. I'll sneak the time in here and there and it will be a good excuse to step away from the computer and the phone.

 

The VTR is a fun motorcycle It's a clean example. It's already largely torn apart. Go for it!






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It's funny. I have never ridden the bike. I have heard it run badly but I am captivated by the thing. It has the biggest pistons I have ever seen. They look like dinner plates! I can tell that the VTR is more sport to the VFR's sport touring.

 

Sorry to hear you ran into a snag, good luck with the rebuild.

 

I am amazed that there are no signs of a rod bearing. I am also amazed that the internals of the rod journal are clean and the crank is scored. Just curious and maybe I missed it how many miles on this bike?

Lastly buying another motor you maybe money ahead over a rebuild.

 

The bike shows 32,000 miles on the clock. What is amazing is I started the bike and ran it for maybe a full minute in total. Granted I did not rev the engine but I am damn lucky nothing exploded. The engine seems to be in good shape except for the offending rod bearing. I have ordered a used rod and crank set off eBay. I'll check it very carefully along with the main bearings and the oil pump

I was looking for an engine but the VTR was never a big seller around here. People here tend to like their sport bikes with 4 cylinders not two. I looked for engines but found that I was looking at between $800 and just under $1000 for an engine of unknown quality off eBay ( with shipping). I would rather tear this one down, check the tolerances and replace the rod and main bearings than to take a chance on a used one. Plus it will be as right as I can make it when I am done.

 

Necessity is the mother of invention. I am far enough along to need supports for the engine and the frame. I built a short sawhorse to rest the rear of the frame on when I pull the swing arm. I needed some sort of A-frame on which to hang my block and tackle to lift the bike and the engine. In the old days I would have muscled the bike around but my back won't take that kind of abuse anymore. I had planned to build a derrick of sorts out of 2x4s and I was looking around the barn for spare lumber. You have to understand that I have 20 years of junk in the barn and outbuildings and I can usually find something to work with. I was looking around when I had to move an, old above ground pool, ladder. We had an above ground swimming pool for the kids years ago and the ladder is the only thing left. All of a sudden it hit me “The pool ladder!” Of course. It’s the right width, the right height, it is rated at 200 pounds when means it will go to 500 or even 600 before collapsing and I only need 350 at most. It’s light weight and if I screw it up its junk anyway.

All the above was theory. It looks really funny but it actually works.

 

BRILLIANT!
John

 

I think you will be so glad you stuck with this one.
They are super fun bikes and not just another squid bike that every other kid on the street has.

Good luck on the remainder of this project.

 

I made good use of my Saturday. I got the swing arm out. It went kind of slow because I do not have much experience with "modern" suspension linkage. I did expect to find the bearings dry and shot but surprisingly everything works smooth and nothing was stuck. The swing arm pivot shaft was a bear to get out.

I did manage to remove both the counter shaft sprocket bolt and the flywheel retaining bolt. I danced around the shop with them like Gollum with the Ring of Power! This morning early, I broke a 14mm 3/8" drive socket on the counter shaft sprocket. (that’s all I had) So I went up to the local auto parts store, which is surprisingly well stocked with tools, and purchased a 1/2" drive 17 and 14. On my return, while I was waiting for the wife to assist me by stepping on the rear brake, I hit the flywheel nut with my rattle gun and the new 17mm socket. Before I was using a deep well 3/8” drive with a ½” adapter for my impact. I guess it had too much play in it because to my surprise and delight the bolt spun right out.

I reached back into the "special tools" drawer of my tool box and retrieved my Honda flywheel puller, threaded it into the flywheel and a few taps from the air wrench and it was off. The Counter shaft sprocket nut came off thinks to my trusty Sear's Craftsman 1/2" drive cheater bar, my wife's foot on the rear brake and my not too considerable weight bearing down on the bar.

The engine is stripped and ready to drop out. I am waiting on the frame nut tool I ordered. I tried the frame adjusters using my homemade castle wrench but it slipped and I was afraid of damaging the slots. I decided to hold off, ordering a real wrench to work with.

Progress was made.

 

A pool ladder, a freakin above ground pool ladder! I love it!:thumb: Use what ya got McGyver..............I can tell you're an old timer.